an Artist's Journey

An artist's journey through Rajasthan, Agra and Varanasi. Paintbox and easel in hand, professional artist Gaston de Vel and his freelance journalist wife Linda travel widely in search of subjects for his work. In this vivid account the author has described their journey by hired car through the Indian regions of Rajasthan, Agra and Varanasi. Always deeply interested in what is happening around her, and with her keen sense of humour ever alert for absurdities, she has created a colourful and engrossing picture of India's challenging contrasts - architectural grandeur alongside appalling poverty, empty deserts and teeming towns - and of its fascinating past. Linda De Vel is no armchair tourist: she has met people and talked to them about their lives, their religion, their politics. Sacred cows, travelling by tuk-tuk, fancifully named beer, finding affordable accommodation, the horrors of Indian driving, the glories of the Taj Mahal and Mehrangarh Fort and buying and wearing a sari are all covered.